The US president, Donald Trump, He affirmed that he does not believe that a new extension of the date of July 9 for the imposition of duty to countries that have not reached a new commercial agreement with the United States.
“I don’t think I will need it,” he said during an interview with Fox News recorded on Friday and broadcast this Sunday. “It could, nothing happens,” he added immediately more on the line with the public statements last Friday in which he said he could “whatever he wants” with the deadline.
“I would like to cut it. I would like to send letters to all: ‘Congratulations, you are going to pay 25 percent,” he said during a press conference on Friday.
In Sunday’s interview he has repeated the same idea. “We have reached agreements, but I would like to send you a letter, a very beautiful letter saying ‘Congratulations, we will allow you to trade with the United States of America and you will pay tariffs of 25 percent, or 20 percent, or 40 or 50 percent.’ I prefer to do that,” he said.
Trump stressed that these letters are the end of the negotiation and that they will be sent “very soon.” Thus, he has put Japan as an example. “Dear Mr. Japan. Here is. You will have to pay a 25 percent tariff for your cars,” he said.
Trump has already referred to the letters mentioned on May 16 and June 11 and in both cases the missives were going to be sent between two and three weeks, although they have not finally materialized.
A key friction point: Japanese cars
United States President Donald Trump made it clear that he evaluates hold a 25% tariff on cars imported from Japan if a new commercial agreement is not reached. The threat comes while the time to negotiate is exhausted: if there are no advances before July 9, more general levies would come into force that could deepen the tension between the two countries.
“So we do not sell vehicles to Japan. They do not accept our cars, but we are millions of theirs. It is not fair,” Trump criticized in Fox News, insisting that Japan could balance the balance buying more oil or other US goods.
Why does the US sign up for the Japanese automotive sector?
Japan maintains one of the higher commercial surpluses with the USwhich in 2024 reached 8.6 billion yen (about US $ 59.3 billion). He 82% of that surplus is explained by cars and auto partsa vital sector for the Japanese economy and a priority objective in Trump’s protectionist strategy.
The US trade deficit with Japan is currently the largest seventh at the bilateral level, behind members such as China or Mexico.
Critical negotiations and risk of recession for Japan
Ryosei Akazawa, main Japanese negotiator, met last week in Washington with the Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. Although the conversations were qualified as “fruitful”, there are still no clear signs of a pact that avoids extra tariffs.
Tokyo insists that Sector taxes on cars They are unacceptable. He argues that the Japanese automotive industry invested more than US $ 60,000 million in the US and holds about 2.3 million local jobs. Without agreement, the Japanese economy – which was already contracted in the first quarter of 2025 – could enter technical recession.
United Kingdom achieves relief for cars and aerospace sector
Meanwhile, as of this Monday, Cars manufactured in the United Kingdom will enter the US with a 10% tariffcompared to 25% that Donald Trump imposed to other countries, thanks to a new economic agreement between Washington and British prime minister, Keir Starmer.
10% tariffs were also eliminated for assets of the aerospace sector, benefiting giants such as Rolls Royce Holdings PLC. According to the British government, this reduction thousands of jobs will save and protects two key industries for the country’s economy.
Jaguar and Rolls Royce, among the main beneficiaries
The new reduced tariff applies to a Annual quota of 100,000 British carswhich favors brands such as Jaguar Land Rover in front of competitors from Japan or the European Union, who continue to pay higher rates. However, the rate remains higher than pre-trump levels, when that tax did not exist.
“As of today, our world -category car and aerospace industries will see their tariffs reduced, safeguarding key industries,” Starmer celebrated in an official statement.
Steel, the most difficult point
Despite this advance, London and Washington They failed to unlock the tariff reduction for British steelwhich continues with a 25% rate although the United Kingdom had announced a principle of agreement to reduce it to zero. The local steel sector continues to claim relief to maintain its competitiveness.
The British business department admitted that steel is the most complex section of negotiation and that The conversations will follow to reach a zero tariffwithout specifying deadlines.
A pioneer agreement for London
The United Kingdom is the only country that achieved a Preferential treatment with Trump administrationsomething that could serve as a model for other countries that seek relief in their own commercial disputes with the US.
For analysts, partial failure in steel Send a warning signal To other partners who expect to close tariff reduction pacts before the entry into force of new global rates.
Source: Ambito
